Dad is Ours
The next morning, I slowly opened my eyes. The bed still held its lingering warmth. Nestled in my arms, Psi and Dmol slept soundly, pressed tightly against each other. I lay still for a moment. If I got up first like last time, they’d probably wake up startled and start crying again.
“…Let’s just stay like this a little longer.”
I quietly steadied my breathing and waited. A short while later, Psi and Dmol began to stir at the same time. They blinked their eyes open slowly, then spotted me right away. I gave them a soft smile.
“Sleep well?”
Psi’s face lit up with a grin as she nodded vigorously. “Yeah! Dad!”
Dmol rubbed her eyes and murmured gently, “Good morning…” Her voice was still thick with sleep.
I stroked their heads slowly. “Yeah, you slept great.”
They melted happily into my touch. I sat up and climbed out of bed, then headed over to the incubators on the desk. The two devices glowed faintly. Standing in front of them, I said, “You guys sleep okay too?”
At that instant, the eggs inside gave a little wiggle. Like they were nodding back. I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“…Yeah.”
“Hurry up and hatch so we can play together.”
I watched them for a bit longer before turning away. After that, we all headed to the bathroom. We washed up quick, changed into fresh clothes, and got ready. As I toweled off my hair, I said, “Remember what I told you yesterday?”
Psi and Dmol both looked up at me. I grinned.
“We’re going shopping today.”
“Clothes, necessities—whatever we need.”
Their eyes sparkled in unison the second I finished. Psi’s tail started wagging like crazy.
“Yay!”
Dmol shot her hand up high. “Me too!”
I chuckled and nodded. “Alright then, let’s roll out if you’re ready.”
I grabbed a big bag and carefully tucked the two incubators inside. “They’re coming with us too.”
Psi nodded eagerly, while Dmol peeked at the bag and gave a tiny smile. And just like that, we left the room.
A little later, we stood in front of the department store. The doors slid open, flooding us with bright lights and the hum of crowds. Psi and Dmol gripped my hands tight, one on each side, and started humming cheerful little tunes.
“♪~”
“…♪~”
I smirked at the sight. “…Gonna be a loud day today.”
We made a beeline for the kids’ clothing section first—they needed outfits, after all. As we wandered through the store, though, I started picking up on something weird.
“…A lot of stares.”
People’s eyes kept drifting our way. I tilted my head, puzzled, then glanced around and figured it out quick.
“…Ah.”
The two girls right beside me. Psi and Dmol. Both were adorably cute, strikingly pretty. The kind of looks that turned heads no matter what.
I smiled to myself. “…Fair enough.”
But their reactions? A little different. They snuck glances around, then huddled close and whispered.
“…They’re all staring at Dad.”
“…Don’t like it.”
I caught that and chuckled. “Nah.”
Looking back and forth between them, I said, “They’re staring ‘cause you guys are cute and pretty.”
“Not at Dad, right?”
A beat of silence. Psi and Dmol stared at me. Then they both sighed.
“…Dad’s so dense.”
“…Yeah…”
I blinked, caught off guard. “…Huh?”
Right then, Psi yanked my hand. “C’mon, let’s go.”
Dmol tugged my other arm. “Don’t like it here.”
I stumbled after them. “Wait, why—”
But they were already picking up the pace. I couldn’t hold back the laugh anymore.
“…Okay, okay.”
“I’m coming.”
We finally reached the kids’ section. I scanned the racks seriously, one piece at a time.
“…Hmm…”
Easier said than done. Psi and Dmol weren’t your average kids. Psi had that tail poking out from her waist, and Dmol had those thin wing membranes stretching between her arms and sides. Off-the-rack stuff would chafe for sure.
I crossed my arms, frowning. “…How to handle this.”
Even with alterations, better to pick thoughtfully from the jump. I sighed and looked up.
“Hmm…”
Then it hit me—I changed tack. Glancing at them, I said, “You know what?”
“Just pick whatever you wanna wear.”
Psi and Dmol stared at me. I shrugged.
“We’ll get ‘em altered.”
“Go wild.”
Their faces lit up instantly.
“For real?”
“…Really?”
I nodded with a grin. “Yup.”
“Today’s your day.”
Psi bolted off with a huge smile, while Dmol paused a second before trailing after more carefully. A bit smaller than Psi, Dmol inspected each item thoughtfully. Psi, meanwhile? “This one’s cute!” “Ooh, this too!” Darting around, grabbing stuff left and right.
I watched, amused. “…Clear tastes, huh.”
Soon enough, they came back with armfuls. Totally different vibes. Totally different picks. I eyed them over.
“…Nice choices.”
That’s when someone approached hesitantly from the side. “Um… need any help?”
I looked up at the sales clerk. “…Oh, sure.”
I nodded casually, and she stepped in closer with a smile. “Shopping for your little sisters?”
“You’re so sweet about it.”
That did it. The air on either side of me shifted—like ice cracking.
“…?”
I glanced over, confused. Psi and Dmol’s faces had gone stone-cold. Hardening slow, like spoiling fruit.
“……”
No words. But the bad vibes? Crystal clear.
A moment later, Psi dropped the clothes she’d been holding.
Thud.
She scooted right up to me. Dmol set hers down quietly and followed suit. They glued themselves to my sides and murmured, low but firm.
“…Dad.”
“Don’t wanna shop here.”
I froze. “Huh?”
Dmol nodded, adding softly, “…Somewhere else.”
Quiet. Unyielding. I looked between them. “No, wait—why all of a sudden—”
Psi yanked my hand. “Let’s go.”
Dmol grabbed the other arm. “Hate it here.”
They hauled me off together. I staggered after. “…Hold on—”
Then a voice from behind. “Excuse me! Sorry!”
The clerk hurried up. I halted and turned—just as Psi and Dmol did too. They pivoted slowly. And scoffed in sync.
“…Ha.”
Psi went first. “Sorry?”
Dmol piled on, quiet. “…Now?”
The air turned frigid. The clerk stammered, flustered. “Ah, no…!”
“You look so young… didn’t realize you were married.”
She forced a laugh, backpedaling. “Thought they were your sisters, so…”
She edged closer again. Then—
Step.
Psi planted herself in front, blocking me flat. Dmol slid quietly to her side, holding the line. They’d walled me off.
“…?”
The clerk faltered. Psi let out a short sigh.
“Ha…”
She looked up slow. “Dad does look young.”
Her tone dipped lower than usual. But what came next? Heavy.
“…Doesn’t matter. No.”
The tension locked up. Dmol stepped forward too.
“…Stay back.”
Soft. But a line in the sand. The clerk’s face went rigid.
“Uh…?”
I watched sideways, panicking. “Hey, hold up—”
They didn’t budge. Psi clamped my hand. Stared the clerk down.
“Dad’s busy.”
“And—”
She paused, then whispered, “…He’s ours.”
I went blank. “Kids…?”
Dmol nodded at my side. “…Yeah.”
She squeezed my arm harder. “Dad… belongs with us more.”
The clerk looked totally lost. “…Ah, no, I didn’t—”
Words failed her. Mood soured fast. I sighed at last.
“…Ha.”
Pressed their heads gently. “Knock it off.”
To the clerk: “Sorry about that.”
Quick add: “They’re super guarded.”
Psi and Dmol snapped their heads up. “Not guarded.”
“…Nope.”
I smirked. “Sure, sure.”
“Then what?”
They clammed up together. I shook my head.
“Anyway, we’ll browse elsewhere.”
Grabbed their hands. “C’mon.”
They still looked grumpy but shuffled after me. Felt the clerk gaping blankly behind us.
A little ways off, I muttered, “…What’s with you two, seriously.”
Psi whipped around. “Dad’s fault first.”
“Why’d you just stand there?”
Dmol chimed in soft. “…Yeah.”
I laughed, baffled. “…What’d I do…”
Psi shot back instant. “You let her stare at Dad without saying anything.”
I cracked up. “…Okay, got it.”
Sigh-tinged. They stayed pouty but nodded, dropping it.
We circled back to shopping. This time? Lightning fast.
“This one’s fine.”
“…Like this too.”
Psi and Dmol snatched stuff with zero hesitation. I blinked, thrown.
“…Way different from before?”
Blank stares. Cool as ever. I chuckled, shrugging.
“…Whatever, you like it—that’s what counts.”
Checkout done, we headed upstairs to alterations. Handed over the clothes. “Make ‘em comfy for the kids, please.”
Tail and wings meant standard fits wouldn’t cut it. The staffer checked ‘em out, nodded.
“Got it—will tailor for max comfort.”
Thanks given, clothes dropped off. Time flew, and boom—lunchtime. We drifted to the food court, buzzing with crowds.
Glanced at them. “Whatcha wanna eat?”
Psi scanned around. “Um… something tasty!”
Dmol piped up shy. “…Something warm.”
I grinned, nodding. “Cool, let’s take our time picking.”
As we scoped spots—
“Hey, what the hell are you doing?!”
A shout exploded from one side. Heads whipped that way—all around. Mine too.
“…What’s going on?”
Psi and Dmol tensed up instant. The chill vibe? Shattered.